It's Emma Stone vs. Emma Thompson in 'Cruella' and the eviler one wins The villain kicks off the movie season, with lots of help from her friends. May 27, 2021 — 1:09pm Text size Copy shortlink: There's an excellent Emma in "Cruella," but it may not be the Emma you're thinking of. Emma Stone is the lead; she plays the title role in a comedy that takes place before most of the events of Disney's classic, animated "101 Dalmatians." But the real star is Emma Thompson. She's Cruella De Vil's nemesis, a fashion designer in 1960s London whose nastiness makes Cruella look like a Nobel Peace Prize winner.